Christmas Pop Up

Going Stella

One of my all time best Christmas presents is the box of Stella McCartney days of the week knickers Chaz gave me two years ago. I have literally worn them to death - they now look like cobwebs. I have two pairs left that any normal person would have thrown out months ago but I love them so much and even though they look like they should only be worn at Halloween, cant bear to be without them. They are quite pricey but price per wear is probably 0.05 pence so if you look at it like that are actually a real bargain.

Stella knickers. £125 from Liberty and Matches.

So whilst on the hunt for my new box of beauties I came accross yet another Stella sensation. This time not for myself but for the Wolf cub and I actually dont know which I prefer; her days of the week babygrows or the knickers... As baby clothes go these aren't so much as a bargain. At £67 they are actually a fortune but he would look so divine in them they would be absolutely worth it.

Days of the week babygrows

£67 from www.stellamccartneykids.co.uk

Hattie Rickards Jewellery

No one likes a Monday but this has made me so excited it feels like Friday. My great friend Hattie Rickards's first jewellery collection for 'Made' is finally available to buy online. I've loved her designs from day one and am feeling rather pleased with myself that I already have a few of her original works from when she was at Central Saint Martins.

Her love of nature and the countryside really shows in her collection.

"I spend my life collecting up pods and seeds wherever I am. I love drawing them because of their delicacy, intricate detail, the way they age and the secrecy of what's inside them. The challenge is to find a feature of the pod and make it your own as people don't need to recognize what planted the seed of your design".

£100 Kaleha Necklace

Pembe Bangle. £10

Hattie in Nairobi with the creators of her designs.

To buy Hattie's pieces have a look at

www.made.uk.com

also at

www.hattierickards.com

I love anything do to with romance. Life, flowers, films, stories, shoots, food. Rose tinted glasses were made with my name on. Nothing makes me happier than a story that ends 'happily ever after'.

There's something very romantic about ballet - the mix of the exquisitely detailed costumes, the lace, the drama and the swan like ballerinas flitting accross the stage. My maternal Grandmother was an incredible ballerina and used to give me lessons when she came to stay. I didn't really get it at the time and now each time I pass a Swan Lake poster in the Underground I'm furious that I didn't pay more attention. I've always secretly thought I'd make an excellent ballerina. Or at least be very good at the dressing up part.

Camilla Akrans

Photography by one of my faves Camilla Akrans

Love is all Around

Dix points for Marc Jacobs and his Love Dove and Snow Bunting rings. Right at the top of my wish list, I am very keen to get my hands on these beauties.

$98 from shopbop.com

In the bag

I dont know what I'd do if someone gave me the whole Anya Hindmarch travel range. Possibly the chicest thing on the planet. I love the idea of having matchy matchy accessories too much for words. I've actually got butterflies just imagining swanning around the airport and whipping out my fleet of the black and gold beauties. Laptop cover, make-up bag, see through make-up bag (have this one already), baby bag, hair tong holder; you name it Anya's done it. And I really would like them all. Please.

www.anyahindmarch.com

All I want for Christmas

I know it's only November but by this time last year I had easily finished all my Christmas shopping - I was ten months pregnant and adamant that I wouldn't have one second to shop once the cherub arrived - so comparatively, this year I'm pretty tardy. My list isn't finished by any means but I've already spotted a few things that I would really like to be hiding under the tree with my name on them.

A Laura Lee gold coin necklace. Tiny gold coin necklace with 'Love' written on it, made from the finest chain ever seen. I'd wear it everyday. She also makes matching earings that would make me very happy too.

About £150 from the Bluebird, Kings Road or www.mywardrobe.com

Im going through a bit of a grey nail varnish phase and love Essie's Chinchilly and Chanel's Particuliere

£14 and £9 from any department store or www.lookfantastic.com

Mary Newcomb is my absolute favourite artist and you never know, someone might win the lottery and want to buy me something extra special this year. I love most of her work but here are some of my favourites.

The lady with a bunch of sweet williams (1988)

The unofficial countryside (1973)

The Brooding Rooks heaven (2001)

Crane Kalman Gallery has the biggest collection of Mary Newcomb.

178 Brompton Road. SW3

They're about six seasons old but Chloe's Silverado wedges are still top of my most wanted shoe list.

Not sure where to get them, if anyone wants to sell a size 39...

I dont know what I'd do if someone gave me the whole Anya Hindmarch travel range. Possibly the chicest thing on the planet. I love the idea of having matchy matchy accessories too much for words. I've actually got butterflies just imagining swanning around the airport and whipping out my fleet of the black and gold beauties. Laptop cover, make-up bag, see through make-up bag (have this one already), baby bag, hair tong holder; you name it Anya's done it. And I really would like them all. Please.

Patch phase

Im not really sure why but I have a real thing for elbow patches. Last week my laptop exploded so I booked an appointment with an Apple 'Genius' on Regent Street thinking they'd send me home all mended. They didn't; Thanks to a techincal fault I have now lost everything - all my photos, my writing, my contacts. Everything. If one more person so much as whispers the word 'back-up'...

I know worse things happen but I left the store completely shell shocked -as if i'd been hit by a bus - and somehow ended up being unconsiously drawn accross the road into Liberty. I floated around for a while, not really able to concentrate and then suddenly, a moment of clarity. Infront of me was the most gorgeous purpley marl, wool APC jumper with chocolate brown, suede elbow patches. Just looking at it made me feel instantly better. Within about three and a half minutes I had tried on, bought and left the shop with swanky new jumper in tow. And for about an hour felt much better.

A.P.C elbow patch jumper in ceil.

www.liberty.co.uk

Total makeover

The exciting honeymoon period of being back in London has worn off already. Our four years in France seems like a distant memory and it’s only been six weeks.

I look however, like I’ve been back six years - and have been locked in a darkened room. My skin is grey and hair is flat. Probably slightly down to a combination of minimal sleep thanks to teething baby, absence of sun and large presence of cupcake shops on my daily walk route. Last week I decided enough was enough and it was time to do something about it. I seem to have been to about fifty weddings since getting back and am already a bit tired of recycling my trusty wedding ensembles. But last weekend one of my best friends was getting married and I thought it’d only be right to make a huge effort. Total makeover needed.

I normally have a magical lady called Lee who comes to the house and does my cut and colour for about £70 but she was a little busy having a baby so had to rather bravely go off piste and find someone new. I’ve always loved the look of Lockonego, partly because of it’s location next to my favourite restaurant ‘Eight over Eight’ and booked in there for my highlights. After a couple of hours with my new friends Glen and Jermemy I was as blonde and shiny as new.

Lockonego 0207 7951 798

My next genius new find is make up artist Netia Hibbert. Even more genius is the fact that she is also my next door neighbour. Netia’s been a make-up artist to the stars for the last ten years and specialises in natural makeup. She wants you to look like your not wearing any make-up just much prettier. She works from home in Chelsea but her arm can probably be twisted to come to you. I went to her for a lesson in day to night makeup and left desperate to get on the Gatwick express to the wedding so I could show off my new tricks.

A session with Netia costs £85/hour www.netiahibbert.com

Darjeeling Visions

Possibly the coolest luggage ever created, made by Louis Vuitton for Wes Anderson's film The Darjeeling Limited.

Pack it up, pack it in...

I'm not quite sure how to contain myself about these Liberty suitcases. I have a small bag obsession as it is but throw in a floral print and I'm speechless. They definitely need to be taken somewhere special, no slumming it for these beauties. And the next problem is which one to get....they look so pretty all lined up together...

Liberty print suitcases.

£60

www.liberty.co.uk